Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-06
regard for authority inculcated in him, hs
is not troublesome to manage
RrroKrs PROM PRISON wAEDESs.
Questions Propounded To, and Replies
from Wardens of State Prisons.

Inc warden OF FOLSOM prison sent e cir
cular letter on the 22d Of July to every
State Prison and Penitentiary in the United
States, asking for answers 10 the following
questions:
What is your mode of punishment for pris-
o1ers who VIII not work
What mode for those who assault the Of
tcers with intent TO kill
S-What is your opinion OF solitary confne.
ment, not as practiced at your prison, but as
practiced here. viz: by eonfniug In one Of the
cells in no way different from ali the Others ex-
cept that some of the openings are hooded?
PLEASE dercribe your solitary cells
5-We have prisoner here, William Smidt,
under sentence of ten years. He escaped from
the Southern Illinois Penitentlary at Chester;
has escaped from one or two other eastern prs-
ons; has made six attempts 10 escape from this
prison; attempted to assassinate the Warden OF
this prison; has assaulted prisoners, and threat
ems 70 kill whoever stands between him and
liberty. He generally manages TO remove all
shackles and handouts as soon as placed upon
him. What would you do in such case2
So far, the following replies have been
received
Tom McTague, Warden Of the United
States Penitentiary of Montana, writes:
Confinement in dark cell, on bread
and water diet, until the prisoner consents
to work.
2-Centinement as above. The prisoner
is also heavily shackled
3-We have found that solitary confine-
ment in dark cell, such as yours, while
effectual, is in no way prejudical to the
health of prisoners.
4-Our solitary cells are made by boiling
sheet-iron door TO the ordinary grated
door of any of the cells. The iron is
punctured with holes sufficient for yentila-
ton.
5-We have had q similar case TO the
IL hat
in dark cell, with bread and d-water diet,
and riveted irons so heavy as not to be
broken, with the application Of the gal
vanic battery, have brought the prisoner
into entire subsection.
John Haley, Jr., Warden of the Idaho
Penitentiary, writes as follows:
SOLITARY confinement on bread and
water.
2-Never had any assaults on officer or
guard.
8 Solitary confinement is the best
method of Furnishing men that | have yet
found. Your dark cell, as you describe it,
is not as bad as ] make them here.
Al have no regular dark cell, but have
wooden doors which fit tightly in front of
any cell door in the prison making the cell
perfectly dark.
81 would place him in solitary confine-
ment, on bread and water, put heavy irons
on his s-double-riveted-and if neces-
sary, handcuff him, and never let him out
of his cell until he agreed to behave him
self When | did let him out, put shackles
and bali and chain on him, keep to him
self under eyes of the guard, not ALLOW him
to speak to another prisoner, and instruct
guards TO kill him if he made any etten D;
TO escape.
g. NJ. Mitchell, Warden of the Southern
Illinois Penitentiary az Chester, says:
IL would put in solitary confinement
on bread and water, chain or handcufi
him to door OF solitary cell during work
ing hours until he was willing to work.
2-Same punishment until he was con-
quered IF sentence was. less than life, /
would have him indicted and tried under
our statute.
81 think you have very poor substi-
tute for n solitary cell. Can't see how YOU
could expect any very good results from
any punishment in such place.
4-Our solitary is stone building sepa-
rate and apart from any other, with two
galleries of fourteen cells each Our cells
are 7x9 feet. Steel grated doors and win
dows. Can be made absolutely dark II
necessary.
81 would conquer him at all hazards
even If it was necessary to XIII him.
the consequences De what they may
den cnless he has absolute control 81
his conyicts. We punish by solitary con
hnement us long as the prisoner can stand
it. Ne then add ball and chain. We
riyet tie shackle to leg Do no remove
day or night until we are satisfied he will
behave. In case convict refused to leave
bis cell, | would turn my cold waite hose
on him-that never fails. I have no sym
pathy with the long-haire} men and short
barred women who 90 around the country
preaching prison reform they know moth
ing about the kind ef fellows we have to
deal with. punish the bad men in order
to project to those who are disposed to do
right. | do not allow any of my officers or
guards to argue with convict or make
themselves in the least familiar with one
w. McCiaughry, Warden OF the Hi
noiS State Penitenlisry. replies
IL confine them in solitary cell, on diet
of bread and water, compelling them To
stand hand cuffed To the grated door of the
cell thands on level with the breast,
until they are willing to go to work
Each officer is instructed, according
to the law of this State 10 use whatever
force is at hand and necessary TO repel any
assaults which, in his Judgment, are made
with intent to kill, do him great bodily in
jury, or lead in an attempt at mutiny. If,
in thus repelliUg an assault. he takes the
life of convict, the law holds him blame
less.
81 have never used such a cell, nor any
darkened cell in Furnishing prisoners, con-
sequently have bad no opportunity to OBJ
serve its erect upon the prisoners, and am
not qualified TO express an opinion con-
cerning it.
4-The cells are constructed entirely of
stone. A plank seven feet long by two
feet wide constitutes the prisoners bed at
night The prisoner undergoing punish
ment is usually required to stand up
at the cell door during the working
hours of the day with his hands passed
through the grating and secured by hand
cuffs on the outside of the grating at the
hight of the breast. For extreme cases the
Is hours out of the "a thus handcuffed to
the door, being let down at intervals OF five
hours for 20 minutes at a time.
5-I would first put him in the solitary
and in irons, on bread and water. until he
promised faithfully to behave himself, if
had to keep him there the whole Of his
term.
R.W. Hyar, Warden OF the Nebraska
State Prison, writes:
1-Confine them in a dark cell, with their
hands cuffed behind their back. Bread and
water diet
2-Same as above with the hands drawn
up higher by a rope fastened to the cuffs,
passing around the neck.
3-Think it all right; not cruel in the
least.
4-7x4x7, same as other cells, excepting
they are made dark by blind door over
the grated iron door. Nothing left in the
cell but water and blanket.
81 would confine him in dungeon
with cuffs on, and as often as il was neces-
sary to repeat the punishment it would be
more severe; if he attempted to escape
would put ball and chain on him.
James Murdock, Warden of the Indiana
State Prison, North, says;
dungeon on bread and water.
Dungeon on bread and water.
3 and dungeons composed entirely of
stone, with grated and sheet iron doors ;
they are eight feet square.
5-No answer.
G. p. Hoyt, Warden of the Colorado
State Penitentiary, writes:
IL hardly know how to answer. All
inmates of this prison understand that un-
less they are sick and excused by the
prison physician that they must work, and
| have never had man refuse TO do so.
Should a case of this nature arise. how
ever, and the man was able bodied and in